Netaji's statue to be relocated to front side of Vidhana Soudha: Karnataka CM Bommai
Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said the statue of towering freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be shifted in front of the Vidhana Soudha here.
"The statue of Netaji, which presently is located behind the Vidhana Soudha near the western gate should be shifted to a suitable spot befitting the honour he deserved....
Netaji's next birth anniversary would be celebrated in front of Vidhana Soudha," Bommai told reporters after paying floral tributes to the late leader here.
He believed that Bose's statue should be located at a place where it is seen standing and leading everyone.
Remembering Bose as the fearless son of India, who built a force for freedom and fuelled it with his fiery nationalistic passion and patriotism, Bommai said his government will ensure his ideals are passed on to the youth of the state by celebrating his life and contributions to the nation.
"We pledge to pay a year-long tribute to Netaji. His 125th birth anniversary will be celebrated throughout the year. There will be various programmes, debates and exhibitions in all schools and colleges of the state to take his vision and values to our future generations," the CM said.
Books and articles on Netaji in various languages would be printed in Kannada and distributed to our youth. The Chief Minister vowed to positively respond to the demands of various organisations dedicated to taking Netaji's vision ahead.
The defunct Flying School at Jakkur in the city would be reopened on the occasion and various programmes for the empowerment of the youth would be announced, Bommai said.
India is celebrating the birth anniversary of Subhaschandra Bose as 'Prakram Diwas' (Day of Valour), who had raised the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to fight against the mighty colonial British government in India.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Catholic Bishops' body slams Bhagwat's remarks
New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India on Thursday slammed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his reported remark that Pranab Mukherjee, when he was President, had said tribals would turn "anti-national" if there is no "ghar wapsi"Catholic Bishops.'
In a statement issued here, CBCI, a body of Catholic Bishops, referred to reports which said Bhagwat, at an event on Monday, claimed that Mukherjee, while he was President had appreciated ghar wapsi and told him that had it not been for the Sangh's work on reconversion, a section of Adivasis would have turned "anti-national".The CBCI called the report "shocking".
"Fabricated personal conversation being attributed to a former president of India and its posthumous publication with the vested interest of an organization with questionable credibility raises a grave issue of national importance," the CBCI claimed.
"Is it not the violent ghar wapsi program of VHP and other similar organizations, curtailing the exercise of freedom of conscience of economically deprived tribals, the real anti-national activity?" it asked.
'Ghar wapsi' is a term used by the RSS and affiliated organisations to refer to reconversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism, based on the belief that they were originally Hindus before converting to other religions.
The CBCI also questioned why Bhagwat did not speak about it while Mukherjee was alive.
"We, the 2.3 percent of Indian citizens who are Christians feel extremely hurt by such manipulated and motivated propaganda unleashed," it said.
In a post on X following the statement issued by CBCI, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien said, "Speak up. This is a start!"
"Bishops body have issued a statement condemning remarks made by Dr Mohan Bhagwat and RSS for defaming the Christian community," he said.
O'Brien added that they should ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi more questions, including why Christmas Day has been turned into "Good Governance Day".
The TMC leader, in a blogpost earlier this month, had said "hard questions" must be asked to the government with regards to the Christian community, including why the FCRA has been 'weaponised', and why has Manipur been 'ignored'.
